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“What is Harrison going to do?” I didn’t have time for her to grill me about the familiar name I used for the man I was running away from.
“Harrison thinks this is a good idea. He doesn’t like what Mother is forcing you to do. He says it’s barbaric and outdated. I asked him to transfer some money into your accounts, and he said that Mother’s name is still on them, so she can track them. He says he is going to get her name off those accounts and once he does, he will contact you and send you some money to help get you settled.”
I reached through the bars and hugged my sister, happy tears stinging my eyes. “Thank you.”
“He is the one that suggested selling the purses and jewelry for cash. Our brother can be surprisingly useful.”
“Yes, he can,” I said.
Words couldn’t express how grateful I was, just knowing I had one male sibling who saw me as a person and not a bargaining chip.
“Do you know where you are going?” she asked, worrying her bottom lip.
“Not yet, and you know what? For the first time, I think that is exciting.” I smiled like I believed what I was saying.
Truth was, despite the summer heat, I had a cold, creeping feeling of dread.
I was terrified.
I had traveled before, of course, but always with my mother, sister, or a group of friends.
Never on my own; never like this.
Anxiety was bubbling away in my stomach, and I wanted to throw up, then hide under a blanket like a child, but that was not an option.
She gave me a bright smile. “That is awesome, but go before they figure out you are gone, and have a room ready for me in case Mother pulls this stunt with me, too.”
“You got it. Here, take this.” I handed her Luc’s phone. “Give it to him when he comes looking for me.”
“I’ll give it to Harrison and let him decide what to do with it.”
“Even better.” I hugged my sister through the wrought iron bars one more time.
“I’m going to miss you,” she whispered, holding me tighter.
“I already miss you,” I said back before pulling out of her tight embrace and turning toward the nearest subway station.
The pawn shop was easier than I expected. Several were located not too far from where I was, just a few quick subway stops down.
I entered the first one, which had an Alexander McQueen bag in the window.
The attendant, an older woman with deep lines, bottle-blonde hair, and massive hoop earrings, was sitting behind the counter. She was nice enough to let me use her bathroom to change into my own clothes, popping her gum and pointing the way with a long, bright-pink stiletto fingernail.
I got changed into another summer dress I remembered buying at Saks last summer. Mother had curled her lip at the red paisley flutter dress by Tommy Hilfiger, but I loved it. It felt young, free, and the hem was just short enough for me to be a little daring.
The maids could have packed this, but I liked to think there was a reason it was in the bag Rose grabbed for me. It was a sign. I needed to be free and daring.
I slipped on the dress and a pair of comfortable wedges. Holding the clothes I stole from Luc, I considered throwing them in the trash can, but they still smelled like him. In a moment of weakness, I stuffed them into my bag and went back out to the front desk.
When I approached the counter, she was flipping through a Vogue magazine, looking uninterested until I started pulling designer bags from the duffle.
I set a few Saint Laurent bags, a Gucci from this season, and three Hermès Birkin bags all on the glass counter.
She immediately wrapped her hands around the Birkin made from ostrich leather dyed to a creamy color called Parchemin. I didn’t think I had ever even carried that bag. I had asked for the one in a rich sky blue called Bleu France, but Mother had decided the ostrich was more ladylike.
“You steal these?” The attendant examined the bags and jewelry as I laid them out on the dingy, scratched glass counter.
“No, I’m Amelia Mae Astrid. You can call the designers and give them the serial numbers on the inside lip of the bags. They will confirm I’m the owner.” I handed her my ID. “Just please don’t tell anyone I’m here.”
